Galvanic Current

BY ANISA ALTAF
18205
PRESENTED TO DR DANIYAL BAIG
ELECTROTHERAPY

1
GALVANIC CURRENT
 It is a steady direct current.
 Long duration current having pulse duration more than 1
ms up to 300 ms or 600 ms.
 But the commonly used duration is 100 ms duration.
 It requires a frequency of 30 pulses/ min.

 If the duration increases the frequency must be

reduced.

2
TYPES OF GALVANIC CURRENT
TWO TYPES OF GALVANIC CURRENT
1) CONSTANT GALVANIC CURRENT
AN ELECTRIC CURRENT THAT MOVES IN
ONE DIRECTION WITH CONSTANT
STRENGTH MODIFIED GALVANIC CURRENT
IT IS INTERRUPTED DIRECT CURRENT.
INTERRUPTION IS THE MOST COMMON
MODIFICATION OF DIRECT CURRENT.

3
4
 Production of Interrupted
Direct Current
⚫ Production of interrupted direct current involves
following:

⚫ Source of IDC
⚫ Transistors: a semiconductor device with three
connections, capable of amplification in addition
to rectification.
⚫ Potential divider
⚫ Timer circuit (Timer device)

5
Duration & Frequency of
IDC
⚫ The duration and frequency of the impulses can be
adjusted,
⚫ a duration of 100ms being commonly used, although
it is often an advantage to increase this to 300 to 600ms
⚫ Frequency of the current reduces with increase in the
pulse
duration.
⚫ Pulse duration of 100ms will have frequency of
30 cycles/minute.
⚫ The interval between the impulses should never be
shorter duration than the impulses themselves and is
usually appreciably longer.
6
Types of
IDC
⚫ Currents produced for therapeutic purposes may have
sudden or gradual fall, hence depending on this
there are several types, which are as follows:
⚫ 1) Rectangular (sudden fall of intensity)
⚫ 2)Trapezoidal (gradual)
⚫ 3)Triangular(……………)
⚫ 4)Saw-tooth (……………)
⚫ 5)Depolarized : some equipment for low intensity
reversed current between the impulses giving
called depolarized impulses.

7
8
Physiological Effects of
IDC
⚫ Following are the physiological effects of the
interrupted direct current:
1. Sensory Stimulation
2. Hyperemia
3. Elecrotonous
4. Pain relief
5. Acceleration of healing

9
Sensory
Stimulation
⚫ During the passage of direct currents the patient is
aware of a mild tingling or prickling sensation,
which may merge into a mild irritation or itching.

10
Hyperemia
⚫ If sufficient current has passed for long enough an
erythema of the skin will be evident under both
electrodes, and is more marked under the negative
(cathode).
⚫ This erythema is confined to the area of
the applied electrode.
⚫ Since this erythema is confined it indicates a
capillary hyperemia.

11
Electrotonus
⚫ Sub threshold nerve stimuli do not cause an action potential
but they do affect the membrane potential. This phenomenon
is known as electro tonus.
OR
⚫ the altered sensitivity of a nerve when a constant current of
electricity passes through any part of it
⚫ catelectrotonus. : the local depolarization and increased
irritability of a nerve in the region of the negative electrode
or cathode on the passage of a current of electricity through it
.
⚫ anelectrotonusThe condition of decreased irritability of a
nerve in the region of the positive electrode or anode on the
passage of a current of electricity through it.

12
Pain relief
⚫ Strong sensory stimulation blocks the pain transmission at the
level of spinal cord by pain gate
theory.
⚫ The hyperaemia occurring may help to remove the nociceptive
substances and thus reducing pain.

13
Acceleration of
healing
⚫ Electrical stimulation by direct current
enhances healing process.
⚫ It leads to increase bone formation and
accelerate healing when current is applied
through implanted electrodes.
⚫ It has also got effects on healing of superficial
and open wounds

14
Therapeutic Effect
1. Stimulation of Denervated
Muscle
2. Sensory Stimulation
3. Hyperemia
4. Pain relief
5. Acceleration of healing

15
 Cosmetics introduction to skin.
Galvanic treatment in the beauty
industry has been described since at
least the 1970s, and earlier. Sometimes
called galvanism, the treatment aims to
improve the skin in two ways:
(1)Cleansing: a process called
desincrustation,
(2)Nourishing the skin condition, through
an electro- chemical process called
iontophoresis
16
IONTOPHORESIS
 Iontophoresis or ion transfer is
the noninvasive introduction of
topically applied free ions into
skin using direct current.
 In Physiotherapy the
constant Galvanic current is
mostly used for
Iontophoresis

17
Stimulation of Denervated
Muscle
⚫ Types of Denervated muscle fibers
⚫ Neurotmesis (complete
denervation)
⚫ Axonotmesis (partial denervation)
⚫ Neurapraxia (compression of nerve)

18
Changes in Denervated Muscles
⚫ When the muscles are denervated the following changes
will occur.
⚫Loss of voluntary contraction and
reflex activities
⚫Atrophy: Resulting in fibrosis
⚫Fibrillization: Spontaneous contraction
⚫ There is marked wasting of the muscle fibers and if
the degeneration is of long standing they tends to
become fibrosed and to loss the properties of
irritability, contracability, extensibility and elasticity.
19
Advantage
⚫ The purpose of such current is to maintain the muscles in as
healthy state as possible to prevent the complication by
electrically artificial contraction.
⚫ If some of the motor units (motor end plate + motor nerve +
muscle fibers) are intact galvanic current is the choice of
treatment.
⚫ Interrupted direct current is still recommended for the treatment
of Axonotmesis and Neurotmesis nerve repair is to be taken.

20
Contraindications
⚫ Skin lesions
⚫ Impaired cognitive
ability
⚫ Pregnancy (1st trimester)
⚫ Over Carotid sinus
⚫ Loss of sensation.
⚫ Cancer.
⚫ Cardiac pacemakers.
⚫ Superficial metals

21
Equipment preparation
⚫ No current leaking on to the casing •
⚫ Polarity is marked •
⚫ Duration of impulse and frequency of
impulse controls are available desired •
⚫ Keep all control at zero •
⚫ Connect wire and electrode •
⚫ Select the appropriate probe if used •
⚫ Make appropriate size if indifferent electrode

22
METHODS OF
TREATMENT
⚫ Patient preparation • Pt position is comfortable ,the part is
adequately supported •
⚫ Explain the patient in simple words about the treatment
(procedure and sensation) •
⚫ Explain Pt characteristics of muscle twitches •
⚫ Warn the patient not to touch the machine and not to
manipulate any control(when both electrode are tried to Pt
part • Report any other sensation

23
TREATME
NT
⚫ Inform Patient That You Are Going To Commence
The
Treatment Obtain Content •
⚫ Before Switching On The Mains And The
Apparatus Check To See That All Controls Are At Zero •
⚫ Turn The Main Switch And Control Switch On. •
⚫ Increase The Intensity Very Slowly Till You Get
The Desired Strength Of Muscle Contraction

24
⚫ note the sensation reported by the patient •
⚫ set the duration (time )of treatment •
⚫ remain with in the calling distance from the patient a call
bell can be gives to patient •
⚫ At the end of the treatment time turn the intensity control
slowly to zero then switch the apparatus and the mains off •
⚫ Remove terminals from the apparatus •
⚫ Undo bandage to remove electrodes • Inspect the skin and
make a note of any reaction

25
References
• ELECTROTHERAPY BY JAYPEE
• GOOGLE CHROME
• AvanianbanChakkarapani/galvanic-current.com

26
27